Unexpectedly Becoming the Student Council President

To read until the final chapter. p atreon.com/casca02

Several hectic days had passed.

In the Disciplinary Committee's executive office.

I sat at my desk, covered in bandages, receiving healing magic from a healer while reviewing documents.

The Han Seo-jin incident had been concluded.

There were many injuries but no deaths.

'No deaths… Unbelievable.'

According to the account from Kim Deok-soo, a member of the Disciplinary Committee who was present at the scene,

the Disciplinary Committee fought well against the skeletal beasts, and several students with decent combat abilities, including those from the Volunteer Department, assisted the committee.

'I'm not entirely sure if there were truly no deaths, though.'

In front of me, thanks to Lee Se-Ah's unique ability, a junior's life was saved.

It was like someone being revived by dramatic CPR right after their heart stopped.

'Anyway, it's a relief in the end. But I'm worried about Se-Ah.'

She used a power that seemed to reverse causality.

There's no telling what kind of severe penalty such an immense power might bring.

But since unique abilities are treated as private, she wasn't likely to easily reveal the penalty.

Se-Ah didn't tell me what the penalty for her ability was either.

I could only take comfort in the fact that she greeted me normally the next day.

'Han Seo-jin… We can't touch her for a while.'

Han Seo-jin, the perpetrator of this incident, was encased in hardened, purple magic power.

No matter what the Disciplinary Committee tried, the tough magic enveloping Seo-jin's entire body wouldn't break.

Considering it withstood the shockwave from Goliath's punch, it wasn't going to break easily.

We couldn't just launch powerful attacks either.

Doing so might break Seo-jin's body beyond repair, and we couldn't let the case fall into obscurity.

'For now, the best we can do is keep her tightly secured.'

In the end, Ahsung High School decided to keep Seo-jin under tight security, managed with the highest level of security measures.

'She's just dealing with the penalty, so she'll come back eventually. That's when we'll interrogate her.'

If Seo-jin returned safely,

we would clarify the facts and then hand her over to the trial academy.

The Han Seo-jin incident wouldn't be resolved until then.

'There's nothing more to see at the scene of the incident either.'

We thoroughly investigated the scene.

The monster that Goliath defeated wasn't a living creature to begin with. If it had been tunneling underground like a giant worm, it would have been detected during the test site's construction.

Based on game knowledge and the investigation results, it was a catalyst.

In the past,

a beast with excessive magic power died buried underground.

With nowhere for the vast magic power to escape, it continuously condensed over time, seeping into the beast's skeleton.

Seo-jin must have somehow breathed life back into it.

It must have been a very powerful beast at one time.

But how did Seo-jin know such a thing was buried at the test site in advance?

It could only be speculation until we could interrogate him properly, but there was a theory.

'The Head Principal….'

A remnant of the Old Humanity and a figure who knew everything about Academy City, Neo Seoul.

And someone revealed to be behind Kim Dalbi.

The Head Principal, Lee Doo-hee.

She might have provided the information.

'Come to think of it, how did Seo-jin gather those skeletal beasts so easily?'

In the game, I dismissed it as just game mechanics, but Seo-jin managed a lot of skeletal beasts.

How did she contract with so many beast spirits and control them?

If the Head Principal helped, it made sense.

Above all else,

─ 'Oh Baek-seo… I was told to watch over her….'

It seemed he was following someone's orders.

Considering someone who knew about Neo Seoul and could command someone like the six sinners….

The Head Principal was the most likely suspect.

Of course, I couldn't focus solely on her, attributing everything to her plan like some conspiracy theorist.

Hasty judgments were forbidden.

We had to extract the truth from Seo-jin.

'But then….'

I turned my gaze to Oh Baek-seo, who was busy processing documents. She seemed focused on her work, given the amount to handle.

Due to this incident, the practical evaluation was completely suspended, and the faculty, student council, and disciplinary committee were focusing on the aftermath and investigation.

'Why was she being watched?'

Either the Head Principal or an unknown third party wanted information on Baek-seo.

Since the investigation was still ongoing, we could only find out by searching Seo-jin's belongings and residence.

I also directly asked Baek-seo.

Yesterday, I asked, 'Do you know Seo-jin?'

Baek-seo firmly denied any association, saying she hadn't even exchanged words with her.

It seemed like Seo-jin had been unilaterally monitoring her.

'This might be related to Baek-seo's disappearance in the game.'

In the game, Baek-seo vanished.

Whatever was about to happen, there might be a connection between Seo-jin monitoring Baek-seo and her disappearance.

'This can't be overlooked.'

I vowed to protect Baek-seo.

"Leader, do you need something?"

Sensing my gaze, Baek-seo asked.

"No, just looking."

"…"

Baek-seo turned her gaze to me and stared intently.

"Why?"

"How's your body holding up today?"

"You mean the penalty?"

"Yeah."

I had awakened and used my unique ability during the battle with Seo-jin.

It was an ability to manipulate space.

Unless there were no strict usage conditions, there would be significant penalties due to the inverse relationship between power and penalty.

But….

"…I'm fine. Strangely."

I looked at my hand and answered.

"I don't know why it's like this."

It was actually more frightening that there were no problems…!

For several days, I hadn't experienced any peculiar symptoms.

Only the characteristic lethargy from being in a state of magic depletion.

Once magic is depleted, it takes a significant amount of time for the body to recover normal functionality due to the overload of magic circuits.

Essentially, I was just an ordinary person with strength right now.

"That's a relief."

Baek-seo approached and leaned her pretty face close to mine.

I involuntarily held my breath for a moment but didn't show it.

Baek-seo, who was staring at me closely, had a look of curiosity.

"Why… does it still not feel like you're at the 5th Tier?"

So she came closer to confirm.

"Is that so. I wonder why…?"

Those with unique abilities can instinctively sense each other.

Like a sixth sense.

But for some reason, none of the executives above the 5th Tier could sense my unique ability.

Only Secretary Park Minhyuk congratulated me, believing fervently that I'd awakened an incredible ability like a devout follower of a new religion.

There was another issue.

"Do you still not know the usage conditions?"

"No. I have no idea. I don't feel anything."

I couldn't recall the conditions for using my unique ability. In the fight with Seo-jin, I used it instinctively.

So it was frustrating not being able to explain it.

"Could it be because of the magic depletion?"

"The conditions for using unique abilities are typically realized instinctively. You've already used it once, haven't you? Even in a state of magic depletion, you should still be aware."

Baek-seo knew from my recounting of the fight with Seo-jin that I used my unique ability by will.

"That's true. I used it instinctively back then, but now I feel like I've forgotten that sensation…."

"That's unusual."

"Still, I have a unique ability now. It must be a temporary condition. Since the information is being controlled, it's unlikely to cause immediate trouble. I should just wait until my magic recovers."

The information that I had a unique ability was controlled at the academy level.

Like how bad news about a powerful figure quickly disappears from the internet.

There were people who witnessed my ability at the scene.

And there were many who had obtained the information.

However, we judged it shouldn't spread further, so I sought help from the Student Council President.

The reason.

─ 'Don't die to the small fry overflowing in this city…!'

Goliath's warning.

At first, I had no intention of hiding my unique ability once I awakened it.

The problem was that I had awakened a top-tier unique ability that dealt with the concept of space.

The more widely this information spread, the more powerful adversaries would target me.

Proof of this was that Goliath, the one I was most worried about, had already shown interest in me as his top priority.

Of course, it was impossible to completely control the spread of this information.

It might be a futile effort, but it was better than doing nothing.

"There's a lot to do anyway."

Indeed, there was much to do.

Besides investigating the incident,

the General Student Council of Hanyang Federal Academy sent a notice that they would investigate the incident to hold Ahsung High School accountable.

One of the General Student Council's roles was to hold the respective academy responsible when an incident resulted in many student casualties.

Facing the General Student Council head-on was our student council's responsibility.

However, the Disciplinary Committee also had plenty to do.

Providing requested materials to the student council, attending meetings to give briefings…

'Well, it's just a drop in the bucket compared to what the student council has to handle.'

Please let everything go smoothly without any mishaps….

In the game, this incident was one of the landmines that led to the impeachment of the Disciplinary Committee Leader. I just hoped I wouldn't follow the same path.

Swish. As fatigue suddenly washed over my eyes, I rubbed my eyes once.

"Are you tired?"

"I haven't been able to sleep lately."

I didn't bother denying it.

There was no point in hiding it from Baek-seo since she would find out anyway.

It was difficult to hide my fatigue to begin with.

I was dealing with lethargy from magic depletion on top of my injuries.

The healer had even nagged me to be hospitalized, but a Disciplinary Committee Leader couldn't just lie comfortably in bed while there was an incident to resolve.

"Um… Aren't you going to use the card?"

"Card?"

What card?

"…Oh."

That card.

The Oh Baek-seo usage card.

The card's effect was cleaning my ears, right?

"Especially for the Leader who worked hard this time, I can even offer a bonus pat on the head as a service."

Baek-seo whispered in a confidential tone, with one hand shading her mouth, a mischievous smile playing on her lips.

'She must be worried about me….'

She was being playful to show her concern and encouraging me to use the card lightly.

I waved my hand.

"Later. Not now."

I didn't want to use that card right now.

"Later?"

"It doesn't seem like the right time yet. I have work to do."

This level of fatigue was bearable.

'I want to save that card for when I'm truly exhausted.'

Using that card would bring me immense happiness at that moment.

I'd get tremendous motivation and healing.

So, I decided to save it for a crucial moment.

As long as I was the Leader, there was no expiration date on using the card.

"…If you insist."

Baek-seo smiled and turned her head away from me.

Just then, the door to the Disciplinary Committee's executive office swung open.

"Wild Ha Yesong has appeared!"

The Wild Ha Yesong, responsible for monitoring public disorder, had arrived.

Both Baek-seo and I turned our gazes toward Yesong.

"Leader! You're still alive today!"

Yesong pointed at me with both index fingers, raising one knee. Her eyes sparkled brightly.

What kind of pose is that?

"Do I look like someone who would die?"

"Just by looking at you, it seems you could cross the River Styx at any moment. You look like you should be in a hospital bed!"

Well, she had a point.

"I can't rest with just this. I'm the Leader, after all."

"Ah, the fighting spirit of the Disciplinary Committee Leader! I, Ha Yesong, am moved…! How about dumpling stew for lunch today?"

"…The place where you need at least two people to order?"

"Exactly, our Leader! Spot on!"

So, she wanted dumpling stew but had no one to go with.

"Today, I, Yesong, will carry you there specially!"

"No, that's not necessary."

"No need to refuse!"

"I said no…."

With Baek-seo and Yesong supporting me, I stood up and walked with crutches.

When we arrived at the cafeteria, Yesong chatted cheerfully as if nothing had happened. This, too, seemed to be her way of showing concern for me.

Dumpling stew was served. Yesong praised the greatness of dumplings with exclamations as she saw the stew, which was full of dumplings, rice cakes, vegetables, and meat.

Bubble, bubble.

As I stared at the boiling dumpling stew, a conversation with Seo-jin suddenly came to mind.

─ '…I want to see the sea.'

I didn't expect the broth to remind me of the sea….

Come to think of it.

"How's the sea these days?"

A sudden question popped out of my mouth.

"Huh? Do you want to go to the artificial beach?"

Artificial beach.

It wasn't the real sea but a resort designed to resemble the old sea.

It had a sandy shore, a lake, and a large screen displaying the horizon.

I remember it being quite popular.

"No, just the sea."

"Oh… I think it was two days ago. An explorer who returned this time brought new photos of the sea!"

What?

Really?

I had been so busy dealing with the incident that I hadn't had time to check the internet.

Photos of the outside world brought back by explorers were rare.

Even trying to view the Earth via satellite was challenging due to the thick magic energy and pollution caused by the beasts.

But this girl….

"You had time for web surfing?"

I narrowed my eyes and glared at Yesong.

We've been incredibly busy lately.

I worked despite being injured.

"Hehe."

"Get back to work, Ha Yesong."

"I am working! It was just a refresh!"

Yesong laughed awkwardly.

"Anyway, do you want to see?"

"…Show me."

Yesong showed us the recent photos of the sea brought by the explorer.

"..."

A gloomy sky.

The sea, still unpurified and polluted with nuclear waste and the magic energy of beasts.

Countless skeletons, stripped of flesh and organs, scattered without burial.

The eerie landscape of the coastline resembled hell.

Beyond the horizon, gigantic, grotesque creatures walked bipedally.

Unknown black islands and sacred altars floated in the sea.

The other sea photos were similar.

"It's fortunate that the Golden Sheep granted us safe lands, right?"

Yesong remarked suddenly.

"…Perhaps."

According to history,

after the Argonauts challenged the Golden Sheep, the Golden Sheep seemed to appreciate humanity's challenge and granted a few safe lands.

One of those was the center of the Korean Peninsula.

The current Academy City, Neo Seoul.

Though, the true intentions of the Golden Sheep were unknown.

─ 'I want to see the sea, which is no longer beautiful, with my own eyes.'

The penalty for necromancy was becoming a revenant, wasn't it?

If Han Seo-jin was freely roaming the outside world separated from her body,

was she witnessing such sea landscapes?

What kind of scene would the sea show Han Seo-jin?

Had she managed to glimpse the old beauty of the sea even a little?

It was something I couldn't know.

  *

Ahn Woo-jin unwrapped his bandages.

Thanks to the healer's recovery magic, his injuries healed in about a week.

After being informed by the healer that his state of magic depletion would recover by early dawn the next day,

he exercised intensively at home, having rested sufficiently. Fortunately, it was the weekend tomorrow.

"Whew."

After exercising, showering, and enjoying the pleasant muscle soreness, Woo-jin drifted off to sleep.

In the dark dawn,

as Woo-jin's magic circuits recovered, the dormant magic began to return.

Crack!

A crack appeared in the air.

From it, a long, white, bare leg extended gracefully.

A girl emerged from the crack, her long golden hair fluttering as she landed barefoot.

Even in the dark night, the girl emitted a soft glow, displaying an elegant figure. Once the crack disappeared, the light flowing through her body faded.

The girl, who had her eyes closed, lifted her eyelids, adorned with light golden eyelashes.

She gazed at the sleeping Woo-jin.

"…He recovers slowly."

The girl muttered, taking a deep breath of the room's air.

She slipped under the blanket covering Woo-jin and hugged him as she fell asleep.

To read until the final chapter. p atreon.com/casca02